West Texas hotels not on FEMA's assistance list cause issues for out-of-town workers

WEST TEXAS (KWES) - The Federal Emergency Management Agency's hotel assistance program is supposed to help those that were displaced by Hurricane Harvey. Including Ryan Mosley, who was approved for the program but has had trouble finding a place in West Texas.

"I've been from Pecos to Andrews. I'm in Andrews right now," said Mosley.

Mosley, a native Houstonian and oilfield worker, has made frequent trips to West Texas for work.

"I come out here and I might be out here for 30-45 days and then I go back home for about 2 weeks, maybe 3 weeks at the most," said Mosley.

He made trips to the area for the last 15 years. This year has been his toughest yet due to Hurricane Harvey.

"The hurricane, race, color, creed, religion, it didn't care how much money you had in your pocket. It didn't matter if it wiped you out, it wiped you out clean," said Mosley.

Working in the oilfield comes with long nights. Luckily, FEMA stepped in to help him find a place to sleep. Or so he thought.

"There's a lot of people I've spoken to that don't even know what FEMA is," said Mosley.

FEMA's Transitional Sheltering Assistance Program is supposed to help get people like Mosley a place to stay for a few days. Many hotels in the state have signed up but in the area only Alpine, Pecos, Van Horn and Ozona are listed.

"Trying to get a place to stay, it's midnight and nobody believes me," said Mosley.

Mosley added because of the issues he can't have his young daughter come visit.

"I can't do anything about it. If I could trust me I could make my house perfect," said Mosley.

For now, he will continue to work late nights and hope more hotels in the area help visitors who may have similar issues like him.